Door lifting mechanism



Oct. 9, 1945. T. MADLAND 2,386,404

DOOR vI IIWI'ING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 5', 1944 l vwo/amp Mme/vp Patented Oct. 9, 1945 Doon mFTnvG MECHANISM Thorvald Madland, Chicago, lll., assignor to The Youngstown Steel Door Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 5, 1944, serial No. 517,004

5 claims. (c1. 1699) This invention relates to door lifting mechanisms particularly adapted for sliding doors of railway house cars.

It is an object of this invention to provide a lifting mechanism for sliding car doors which shall lie within the most critical tunnel clearance diagram and thereby create a standard lifting mechanism applicable to cars of different widths.

A further object is to provide lifting mechanism of the character set forth above which shall be operablev in either direction in a plane parallel to the-` doors.

Other objects of the invention will become clear as the description thereof proceeds.

In the drawing forming part of this specification:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a sliding car door equipped with one embodiment of the instant invention, parts being broken away in order t more clearly show the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on lined-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing and more particularly to Figs. 1, 4, 5, and 6 illustrating one embodiment of the invention, the numeral I0 designates a sliding door for railway house cars. The door may be of any desired construction but as illustrated is formed of a metallic panel II provided .with spaced horizontal corrugations, one of which is indicated at I2. Ihe front vertical margin of the door is reinforced by means of front and rear members I3 and I4 and the rear vertical marginY of the door is reinforced by means of front and rear members I5 and I6.

The lower margin of the metallic panel II is olfset outwardly as indicated at I1. A metallic backing plate I8 is secured to the panel II in substantially the main plane thereof above the outwardly offset portion I1 and extends downwardly and is secured to the dependingfiange I9 of a Z-shaped reinforcing member, the web 20 of which extends outwardly and the ilange 2l upwardly. This flange lies inwardly of and is fastended to the outwardly offset portion I1 of the panel as by means of rivets 22. The construction of the lower portion of the door as described above is more clearly illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawing and provides a box section adapted to receive the door lifting mechanism of the instant invention.

The lifting mechanism of the considered embodiment of the invention comprises spaced bracket members 23-23 which, as more clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing, embodies a sub` stantially Z-shaped plate 24 having an upstanding flange 25 disposed between and secured to the panel II and the backing plate I8. The web 26 of the Z-shaped plate 24 slopes downwardly and outwardly in conformity with the slope of the lower portion of the panel and terminates in a depending ,flange 21. Each of the bracket members comprises also a channel-shaped member 28 having a web 29 disposed in laterally spaced relationship to the depending flange 21, outwardly directed legs 3Il-30 and oppositely extending flanges 3I-3I which abut against the depending iiange4 21 of the Z-shaped member 24 and which arefastened togethertherewith to the panel II as by means of rivets 32.

Y Each of the bracket members 23 carries a roller 33 disposed within the space between the web 29 and the ange 21 and supported by means of a pin 34 vcarried by saldrweb and said flange.

Main door rollers 35-35 are positioned below the bracket members 23--23. Each ofthe rollers 35 is carried by means of a Lhousing member 39 which, as more clearly illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawing, is substantially channel-shaped in section. Each roller is carried by the housing member 36 byrneans of a pin 31 extending through I a roller bearing 38 of the roller and beyond the walls 39 and 40 of the housing member for apurpose which will hereinafter appear. The upper wall of each of the roller housing members 38-36 is in the formof a cam 4I, as more clearly shown in Figs. 1 and'5 of the drawing and is disposed below a roller 33 and adapted for engagement therewith. The ends of the pins 31 of the main rollers are adapted to extend into guides 42 and 43, as more clearly shown,inf1iigs.'1 and 5 ofthe drawing. The guide 42 is provided by a slot44 extending, downwardly through the upper edgev of the upstanding ange 2| of the bottom Z-shaped door reinforcing member. The guide 43 lis provided by a corresponding slot 45 extending downwardly through the upper edge of the web 480i a substantially channel-shaped member, the side walls 41 and 48 of which are directed outwardly and formed with attaching flanges 49 and 5D secured to the upstanding llange 2|.V f

Operation of the roller housing members 36-3 is obtained by means of an actuating member 5l journalled in outer and inner bearing plates 52 and 53, as more clearly shown in Figs. 4. and 6 of the drawing. The actuating member 5l extends outwardly of the door I and is reduced in section as indicated at G. An operating lever 55 is securedupouthereduced, section of the actuating member: Y

The actuating member 5l is formed with oppositely extending spaced ears 56-56 and 51--515-w Connecting bars 58 and 59 pivotally secured as of housing members 'l0-'l0 through the agency of pins 'II- 1l which extend beyond the walls 12- 12 of the housing members and into the guides 42 and 43 formed as hereinabove described. The

walls 12-12 of the housing members 'lll-10 are 1 connected by means of a web 73. Rollers 'M -14 are rotatably mounted between the walls 'l2-'I2 bymeans'of pinsv l'4-'I4 and are so disposed as to lie-below and be adapted to roll against the out- Wardly extending legs 68-68 of the bracket gmembers (it-66. As more clearly appears from indicated at Sil-6B to the roller housing mem?" bers 36-35 extend between the ears 56-56 and 51--51 and are pivotally connectedlvtheretoby means of the pins 6 I-S I As more clearly shown "befsupported ff'rictionally' upon a track 63. To

in Fig. 1, the actuating member Y5l is disposed intermediate the roller housing members and by reason of the above described constructionfiis operablevto impart movement to the roller hous-V ing members toward-each other .by operation of the lever 55 in either'direction in-a plane parallelv tothe door. i l Y ofthe bottom Z-shapeddoor reinforcing member upon a trackV E53', carried `by the car underframe `64 by meansofY a plurality of brackets, one of which is indicated at 65. In order to support the door Vupon the main rollers 35-35 so that it may easily be moved upon thetrack the' operating leverl'55 mayA be moved ineither direction in a planeparallel to the door. lSuch movement of the lever imparts rotation to the actuating member and movement tothe connecting bars 58 and 59- which in' turn cause the roller housing membersy ."if--fitir toY rock about th'e main rollers 35-35 towarziweach other. During the.

rocking movement of the housing members 36e-36 the upper cam-'shaped walls thereof engage and roll under the rollers S34-33, thereby causing the door to be lifted above the track 6,3.' Themain rollers 35i-35 are maintained in position and the door is permitted to riserelative to the mainv rollers by the association between the ends of the pins 31-31 andthe guides 42-42 and 43-43. When the door is elevated, weight is transierred to themain rollers upon which it may easily be moved upon thetrack. Upon release of the operating lever the door gravitates downwardly until fricti'onal engagement is again established between the web '2U and the track 63. Another embodiment oithe invention is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 of thedrawing.v This embodiment utilizesmuch* ofi the construction hereinabove described in connection with the first considered embodimentof the inventionasclear-- ly appears from .the drawing. Howevenrin place of the bracket members 23g-23 the considered embodiment of theI invention `utilizes bracket members 66-661 angular in shape and having an upstanding leg El disposed' between 'and secured tothe panel Hand backingfplate I8 and Nan outwardly directedleg 63. ATlfre'l'egs 61 and 618 are preferably reinforcedbymeans of-a web 69V.

The main rollers 35-'35 Varecarried by means tion, which is tor'be limited` only bythe scope of ;Y'Fig. 2 of the drawing, the housing members I0- ll'are inclined upwardly in opposite directions relative toeachother. In.its` lowered position the door is adapted to elevate and ,support it upon the main rollers 35-.35t the operating lever -55 is moved in either direction in a plane parallel to the door to impart rotation to the actuating member 5I and movement of the-eonnecting bars 58 and 59 toward each other. Such movement of the connecting bars imparts rocking movement to the housing members 'lil-T0' toward each other and during this movement the' rollers M -14- bear and roll against the outwardly extending-legs 68 so as toV The door is thenlsupported uponl they main rollers and may be moved in eitherl lift the door.`

direction upon the-track;V Release of the voperatinglever' at-any position of the door will -be followed byv downward movement of Y the door into frictional engagement with the track. v

It will be apparentthat numerous' changes and modifications in'. the details of the invention willbe clearto those skilled inthe art. Itis intended, therefore, that all such modifications and changes be comprehended within this inventhe claims suspended-1hereto.V

1f. A lifting mechanism for a sliding door comprising spaced-brackets.' secured to said door, spaced; rollen housings,.rnain rollers,v pins rotatably mounting said rollers in said housings, the ends of said; pinsrextending beyond; said housings, auxiliary rollers carried by said housings above saidmain rollers; said.: auxiliary 'rollers lying below and adjacent to said brackets, members on said doors, guidevvaysv in; said members; said. ends of said pins extending into said guideways and means for rocking said housings relativeA tosa'id main rollers,l said auxiliary" rollers having rolling. bearing against,y said brackets' duringrocking.

movement. of said housings to lift said; door.

v2.. A lifting mechanism fora slidingldoor'eomprising spaced brackets secured tof Ysaidriloor, spaced roller housings, :main rollers, pins rotatably mounting said rollers. inv said housings. the nds of said pins extending beyond saidhous-ings, auxiliary rollers carried by said'housings above-said main'roll'ers, said auxiliary rollers lying. below and' adjacent to said brackets, members on said door, guideways'in said members, said endsfof said pins' extending intosaidguidewaysand means for rocking said housings relative to said main rollers, said auxiliary rollers havingfrolling bearing against vsaid brackets during rocking-` movementpf saidhousings to lift saiddoor, said means embodying bars pivotally fastened to said housings above said main rollers, anV actuating member journalled in said door between said housings, said bars being pivotally fastened tov said actuating member, and an operating lever mountedon saidactuating member.

lifting mechanism for a sliding door com#y prising spaced brackets secured to said door, substantially horizontal flanges on said brackets, spaced oppositely inclined roller housings, main rollers, pins rotatably mounting said rollers in said housings, the ends of said pins extending beyond said housings, auxiliary/rollers carried by said housings above said main rollers, said auxiliary rollers lying below and adjacent to said anges, members on said door, guideways in said members, said ends of said pins extending into said guideways and means for rocking said housings toward each other relative to said main rollers, said auxiliary rollers having rolling bearing against said flanges during rocking movement of said housings to lift said door.

4. A lifting mechanism for a sliding door comprising spaced brackets secured to said door, auxiliary rollers carried by said brackets, spaced roller housings having walls inclined to the horizontal, main rollers carried by said housings, pins extending through said housings and main rollers, the ends of said pins projecting beyond said housings, members on said door, guideways in said members, said ends of said pins extending into said guideways and means for rocking said housings relative to said main rollers, said inclined walls having rolling bearings against said auxiliary rollers during rocking movement of said housings to lift said door.

5. A lifting mechanism for a sliding door comprising longitudinally spaced bracket members secured to said door, longitudinally spaced roller housing members, main rollers carried by said housing members, pins extending through said housing members and said main rollers, the ends of said pins projecting beyond said housing members, guidew-ays on said door, the ends of said pins extending into said guideways, auxiliary rollers carried by certain of said members, and means for rocking said housing members relative to said main rollers, said auxiliary rollers having rolling bearing against the others of said members during rocking movement of said housing members to lift said door.

THORVALD MADLAND. 

